Mercy Clinic: Opened in early 2017

Well-known physicians open a family practice clinic

Bill Shea

City Editor

bshea@messengernews.net

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Dr. Alan Nguyen, at left, shows off the table he uses for Osteopathic Manipulation for Ken Hayes, of Fort Dodge, during an open house for the new Mercy Clinics Family Medicine Fort Dodge facility.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance ambassador Earlene Nordstrom, at left, gets a tour of the in-house lab from CMA/Lab worker Brooke Doughan Thursday evening during an open house and ribbon cutting at the Mercy Clinics Family Medicine of Fort Dodge facility at 119 Ave. O West.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Dr. Alan Nguyen, at left, shows off the table he uses for Osteopathic Manipulation for Ken Hayes, of Fort Dodge, during an open house for the new Mercy Clinics Family Medicine Fort Dodge facility.

A new family practice clinic with two well-known local physicians leading the medical team opened in Fort Dodge in early 2017.

The new clinic is affiliated with Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines.

While the Mercy name is new, Dr. John Birkett and Dr. Alan Nguyen are no strangers to Fort Dodge. Both of them practiced for decades at the UnityPoint Health family medicine clinic at 1428 Second Ave. N. Birkett has been practicing medicine since 1976, while Nguyen has been practicing since 1995.

“We’re excited and proud to be in that community,” said Sharon Phillips, vice president of operations for Mercy Clinics.

“We have been so excited to partner with some high quality physicians,” she added.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance ambassador Earlene Nordstrom, at left, gets a tour of the in-house lab from CMA/Lab worker Brooke Doughan Thursday evening during an open house and ribbon cutting at the Mercy Clinics Family Medicine of Fort Dodge facility at 119 Ave. O West.

The clinic at 119 Ave. O West opened Jan. 9, 2017.

It has a staff of 16 people. In addition to Birkett and Nguyen, the care team includes two advanced registered nurse pracitioners, Jennifer Vought and Tricia Widlund.

The facility features eight patient exam rooms, an osteopathic manipulative treatment room, a procedure room and a laboratory.

However, the clinic won’t be in that building for the long term, according to Phillips.

“It is short-term,” she said. “Our intention is not to stay there.”

She said the Fort Dodge clinic is now on Mercy’s list of sites identified for future upgrades. But the clinic won’t be moving anytime soon. Phillips said during 2018, the staff will identify what additional services might be provided, with the goal of implementing them in about 18 months.